“My daughter will be so surprised when I turn up,” she says. “But by New Year’s we’ll be arguing so much, I’ll have to leave for another year.”
I give her hand a squeeze. “Maybe this year will be different.”
“Probably not,” she says. “It’s okay. We go through this every year. We love each other but don’t see eye to eye. I’d rather live my way on my own, and that’s the bottom line.”
I glance in the rearview mirror as I pull off the side of the road. Sammie’s eyes are watery and full of confusion, and I wonder if that’s the way it is with her mother.
~ Sammie ~
I’m wet and uncomfortable as I squirm out of the soaked dress and into my baggy sweats and jeans. My hair is tangled and matted, and whatever makeup I put on this morning has already run down my face.
The only good thing is I’m out of the rain and snuggling in Braden’s warm jacket. It’s leather on the outside with a fluffy lining inside, full of pheromones and male vitality.
While Braden chats with Eloise, I drift off, wondering what I truly want. Why do I have to make decisions? I hate that. If my mother wanted me home for Christmas, she would have contacted me. She knew my release date. I sent her a postcard, and since I never changed my phone number, she could have called. Instead, she had my stepfather send me a note asking me not to bother her, that my predicament gives her headaches and shames her in front of her friends.
I can’t call her now, and if I show up unexpected, all I’ll get is her cold shoulder.
At least Braden wants me, if only for a ruse.
I let myself soak in their conversation. Eloise updates him on people he knew back when he was a drifter. It sounds like he’s been in the military, and what is this? Something about being dishonorably discharged?
He cranks up the radio, and Eloise changes the subject to the weather. It looks like a snowstorm is forecast.
By the time I wake up, we’re stopping in front of a wood-frame house with a picket fence. It’s snowing, and Braden helps Eloise from the car.
She opens my door and leans in to hug me, whispering in my ear. “I hope you find what you want. Take care and have a Merry Christmas.”
I hug her back, feeling closer to her in the short time I met her than to my own family. “You, too. Thanks for having breakfast with me.”
While she and Braden walk to the front door of her daughter’s house, I switch to the front passenger seat. Why is it we can’t get along with those we’re supposed to love?
Eloise’s daughter makes all the right motions. She shows surprise and swings up her arms to hug her frail mother, but why is she allowing her mother to be homeless?
“You’re deep in thought,” Braden says when he gets back to the car. “Have you decided what you want to do?”
I lean back on the leather seats and close my eyes as he starts the car, the engine purring. “I don’t know what I should do. Christmas is for family, but my family never celebrated Christmas.”
“True, but it’s your first Christmas out from prison. I’m sure your family will be glad to see you.” His voice is too gentle and not at all the snarky arrogance he had when I first met him.
“I don’t think I’m up for the stress of not knowing.” I straighten up and meet his gaze. That’s when I realize my eyes are hazy and wet. “Not this year. After all I’ve been through, I deserve to be pampered and wanted.”
“Oh, I’ll definitely pamper you.” He strokes my cheek, and I can’t help the warm shiver trickling down my spine. Leaning over, he lays a warm, wet kiss over my lips.
I kiss him back, good and hot, and even though a small voice nags me about calling my mom, I squish it and wrap my arms around Braden’s strong shoulders, deepening the kiss and letting myself go.
For now, he wants me to fulfill a promise to his family, and I’m going to get a Merry Christmas and all the trimmings out of it.
I can’t wait, even if I have to keep my hands off of Braden once we get to Wyoming and play teeny-bopper, bratty daughter, sweet sixteen and all that.
For him, it will be worth it, I hope.
